Tag Archives: Caribbean

Anticipations are high for this month staging of KingsToon festival, a two-day animation conference and festival
June 20-21, 2013 at UWI Mona Visitors’ Lodge & Conference Centre, which will provide the opportunity for local and regional animators to get a foothold in the growing US$222.8 billion global animation industry.

I had the chance to catch up with the KingsTOON Project Manager & Consultant in the Sustainable Development Unit of the World Bank Iván Gonzalez Berenguer Pena to find out what the event. Check out the interview below for the 4-1-1.

This Guest Post was written by Sashana Sanderson, 2nd Year Journalism Student at Caribbean Institute of Media & Communications (CARIMAC), located on the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

Innovations, style, creativity, are just a few words to describe today’s youth in Jamaica. The irie land of Jamaica popularly known for its gorgeous beaches and jamming reggae music has for decades been crippled by high unemployment, lack of financial resources and violence particularly among its youth.

These issues have led to the merging of partnerships, to harness the creativity of the youth as a means to generate income, thereby creating jobs which in turn will build our economy. The World Bank in conjunction with other key stake holders has decided to use the Virtual Industry with a combination of the Visual Arts as a means to this end in Jamaica.

Jamaica is overloaded with talented people with a knack for innovation and business zeal. Hence when the World Bank, through its Jamaica Country Office, contacted me to be a Ambassador for its upcoming KingsTOOn Festival, a 2-day Animation Conference and Film Festival to be held at UWI Mona Visitors’ Lodge on June 20th and 21st, I did not hesitate.

To be honest, I was brimming with enthusiasm for several reasons, chiefly because of the opportunity, but more importantly the general ethos of ‘animatingJamaican creativity’ (the event’s theme). What particularly tugged at me was how the festival could be a catalyst for employment and, prospects for professional careers for Jamaicans and foremost a platform for interactions with persons/companies in the global animation industry.

On Friday, May 24, 2013, I and 11 other youngsters from Jamaica and the Caribbean accepted our roles as “KingsTOON Animation Media Ambassadors”. Amongst our duties are: Actively promote KingsTOON Festival; engage young Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals about the festival and the animation competition. In this regard, over the next couple weeks leading up to the KingsTOON Festival, I will be sharing blog entries and interviews here, tweeting from @Lgrandison and posting pictures via my Instagram account.

MORE ON KINGSTOON

KingsTOON is a 2-day Animation Conference and Film Festival, bringing together leading global animation companies with local animation companies, operators, investors, students and policy makers to turn talent and skill into a significant and professional career to satisfy a growing demand/gap for animation products. The festival which takes place over two day, June 20-21, 2013, at UWI’s Mona Visitors’ Lodge & Conference Centre will help Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals etch a share of the over US$222.8 billion industry.

The first day will feature panel discussions and workshops on the opportunities, and how to position oneself to take advantage of the situation. Day 2, will showcase Jamaican and Caribbean talents working in the industry and related fields. The day will also feature the announcement of the winners in the KingsTOON Animation Competition for:

• Best Script and Storyboard (Jamaica)

• Best experimental animation (Jamaica)

• Best character (Jamaica)

• Best final animation product (Caribbean)

For more information on the details of these categories and the competition please visit here

“You buy now,” was the word from Ian Lyn as he spoke Wednesday evening at the press launch of the Jamaica Motor Show, which is excepted to get on the way 10am this Saturday at the Police Officers Show. Lyn was making the point, “with the dollar racing and loan rates expected to rise there is no question that this is the best time to buy a car.”

Lyn also emphasized that with increase rates on car loans as low as 9 percent; patrons should take charge of the amazing deals that will be on location Saturday. “Increase rates are the lowest they have been in the last decade at 9 percent and we’ve invited members of the banking industry; Scotiabank, NCB, RBC Royal Bank, First Heritage Cooperative Credit Union, JMMB, Sagicor Bank and others to be on hand to give you the most competitive deals to afford your own keys.”

Buying a vehicle for some is a family decision. Lyn said, “the motor show promises to be a family day out with a Kiddies Village with bounce-a-bout and other attractions, stunts from Crazy Bikers, Jamaica’s own ‘fast and furious’ Skunk Nation and a packed entertainment package featuring top-lined entertainers with a car stereo sound clash.” Continuing he said, “This is in addition to a wide variety of cars brands and prices ranging from as low as $500,000 to as much as $50 million.”

Karen Tomlinson, Senior Manager at RBC Royal Bank signaled that joining forces with the Jamaica Motor Show will be an excellent partnership. “We’re proud to be on board and to be associated with the Jamaica Motor Show brand as we recently launched our car loan services with low monthly payments and interest.” Tomlinson was quick to highlight that RBC Royal Bank was being true to the slogan “get your keys with ease”.

Guardsman Group’s Nadine Rawlins also announced her company’s pledge to offer a special security tracking to persons attending the Jamaica Motor Show this Saturday. “Security is important for car owners and the Guardsman Group is prepared to offer patrons at the motor show on Saturday a free installation of our security tracking system with a special onetime monthly charge of $2500 thereafter,” gave Rawlins to huge applause.

Adults can pay only $250 flat for entrance, while children are free, to experience this as well as the unveiling of the KIA Sorento and the Tata Nano for the first time in Jamaica.

The Firm Agency is pleased to announce its 6th staging of the Jamaica Motor Show to take place on the grounds of the Jamaica Police Officers Club, January 19 starting at 10am. The annual show for used and new car dealers come on the heels of a successive return auto show that kicked off in Kingston last year then travelled to Manchester and Montego Bay to offer many ‘premium car deals’.

The Jamaica Motor Show, a used car dealer market, is fast shaping up to be one of the biggest and best auto show the country has ever seen, with a record number of discounts, sales and patrons supporting the years. In making the announcement for the 2013 staging, the Firm Agency CEO, Ian Lyn said, “this year is going to be an amazing year, Scotiabank is back on board and the RJR Group, First Heritage Cooperative (FHC) Credit Union, NCB and RBC Banks are fully behind us, plus we have made additions to this year’s show to ensure the entire family and our fans enjoy themselves by adding a Kiddies Village, along with entertainment from Nadine Sutherland with more artistes to be added.”

“We can confirm that multiple car brands can be expected at the 2013 Jamaica Motor Show. Last year patrons left satisfied having seen the new Porsche, Bentley, Benz and BMWs, as well having had good deals,” chimed Lyn, Show Director. Punching home the point that automobile fans should start planning their route to the Police Officer’s Club he noted, “We’re thrilled to offer this platform to Jamaicans to get affordable car deals in the current economic times, as well as to offer a unique market for players in the used car dealer market.”

A huge highlight of the 2013 Jamaica Motor Show will be the addition of a Car Stereo Competition. “Music is a part of who we are as Jamaicans, and globally we’re recognized for that through the works of our entertainers,” gave Lyn as he explained the reason for the addition. Continuing, “It’s customary while walking or driving down the road to hear music being pumped from a car with a good stereo system. In seeking to improve on last year’s show, we thought this would be an innovative move to find the best car stereo system.” The winners in the competition will be presented with prizes from the sponsors.

The Firm Agency boss is confident Jamaicans will look forward to this one of a kind show. Noting “patrons can anticipate a one-of-a-kind, never-before-seen concept with the opportunities to win several prizes when they turn out at the 2013 Jamaica Motor Show.”

Lyn is upbeat about the future prospects of the show outside Kingston, “Last year we travelled to Mandeville and Montego, for this year we’re working on expanding to other towns as well as adding something unique to each location; more will be revealed down the line, but for now the focus is Kingston.”

The 2013 Jamaica Motor Show will be held at the Police Officer’s Club, 34 Hope Road, Kingston 10 on January 19, 2013.

Caribbean Fashionweek, popular known as CFW, takes another giant step forward in 2012, as the Pulse event is said to be redoubling its efforts to take Caribbean fashion to a place of enhanced respect, recognition and profit, at the centre of world fashion, June 7-11, 2012.

Of course one expected this as CFW, which usually signifies the beginning of the summer season, was launched in the United Kingdom at the first International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week, organised by the British Council and the British Fashion Council it gave presenters of CFW the opportunity to engage the International fashion community and to promote participation in the 2012 event.

So far we understand that:

– Brian McKinght has been confirmed to performed at CFW

– Cedella Marley, fashion designer, musician and entrepreneur will return to debut her new swimwear line “High Tide” and

With such fanfare for a launch we expect nothing but razzle-dazzle from CFW and Pulse this year. Perhaps even an appearance from Adele to bring the house down.

In this the year of our jubilee, CFW continues to be executed in partnership with Caribbean stakeholders, including the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association, Jampro, the Jamaica Tourist Board, various related Governmental and non-Governmental agencies, as well as other regional stakeholders and industry professionals. The event takes place June 7-11 and is presented and produced by Pulse.

Jamaica and the British Empire today celebrates Emancipation Day, a day in which we individually recall the enslavement of our people. whether we be Jamaicans or Trinidadians, to free themselves of what we now have come to dubbed, ‘crimes against humanity’.

Many, the world around us, are quick to argue that we still remain ‘enslaved mentally’, citing claims of our dependency on foreign culture. Truth be told we’re who we are now because of where we’re coming from.

Our ancestral heritage have left was with numerous heroes and heroines, some of whom have been lauded for their efforts, in assisting us to achieve ‘freedom from Backra’. During this Emancipation and Independence week let us reflect on the strength, struggle/resistance, and above the reason these individuals along with the women, men, girls and boys who found for us to achieve what we now have.

At this time when all seem to be nothing but chaos, criminals are rampant, lawlessness seem to be the order of the day we MUST ensure that we don’t fall slaves to our fears of these elements that seem bend on crippling the society or fore-parents fought so hard to get, so we could live free of oppression and injustice.

If you ask me i will tell you, ‘yes, to move forward we need to renew ourselves in the conviction of our ancestors to combat the criminal elements that seem not to want the development of our economy and a just society.’

As i leave you in the strength of Nanny, Paul Bogle, Sam Sharpe, and our other National Heroes, i asked that you reflect our our National Anthem, Pledge and Song, for in them we’ll all find a conviction to make small and even large changes to our lives.

The National Anthem

Eternal Father bless our land
Guard us with Thy mighty hand.
Keep us free from evil powers
Be our light through countless hours
To our leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from aboveJustice, truth, be ours forever,
Jamaica Land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica
Land we love.

– for use in schools at the beginning and end of term and on other special occasions.Before God and all mankind, I pledge the love and loyalty of my heart, the wisdom and courage of my mind, the strength and vigor of my body in the service of my fellow citizens.

I promise to stand up for Justice, Brotherhood and Peace, to work diligently and creatively, to think generously and honestly, so that Jamaica may, under God, increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity, and play her part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race.